DIHA (Dicle News Agency) journalist Sadık Topaloğlu was released on Friday after spending 17 months in prison in the scope of so-called KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) case targeting the workers of the Kurdish press.

Topaloğlu criticized the release of only two journalists, ANF journalist Zeynep Kuray and himself, given the ongoing process of talks in search for a solution to the Kurdish question.

The DIHA journalist stated that the KCK case aims to silence Kurdish press which -he underlined- will however not be intimidated by the operations and arrests targeting its workers. He remarked that "I will continue working for the Kurdish press which is the voice of the Kurdish people whose presence has been denied so far, the oppressed, workers and women".

Remarking that 24 journalists are still behind bars, Topaloğlu said that Turkey is holding the record of the highest number of journalists brought to trial because of their work. He pointed out that the ongoing imprisonment of other Kurdish journalists didn't comply with the so-called resolution process. "The ongoing trial of journalists indicate the backwardness in terms of the freedom of thought and expression in Turkey", he noted.

Topaloğlu said that he and other journalists on trial are proud of their work and the reports they write. "Despite all the repression it faced since 90's, Kurdish press has never given up writing the truth, unsolved murders, villages evacuated and burnt down. It will continue not to remain silent despite these arrests", he added.